NBA

3 NBA All-Stars We Want To See Play For A Contender

Dec 18, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Becoming an NBA All-Star is one of the goals most players want to achieve after joining the league. But, one thing ALL players strive for is getting a ring. The players we are talking about are NBA All-Stars or on the All-Star level, but their teams are nowhere near winning the title. That’s why we want to see them traded.

Nikola Vucevic

Jan 27, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (left) guards Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Averaging twenty points and ten rebounds per game in the NBA regular season is no easy task. Doing it for three seasons straight is an even better accomplishment. If a player manages to do so, a lot of praise should go his way. Except if that player is Nikola Vucevic. Then it goes unmentioned.

Nikola has played for the Orlando Magic for eight seasons, and they haven’t had much success together. During Nik’s time in Orlando, the team only reached the playoffs twice. And only to win one game and be eliminated in the first round both of the times. It seems as if Nikola is one of those good players stuck on a bad team for a long time.

This season, Vucevic is playing better than ever, but it doesn’t seem to matter that much. The Magic are holding the 13th spot of the Eastern Conference at the moment. Unfortunately for Vuc, not many fans care about individual stats when your team is that bad. That’s why Vucevic is one of the most underappreciated NBA All-Stars. The team’s record is anything but his fault, so maybe it’s time to split paths?

There are not many big men in the NBA better than Nikola Vucevic, and some contenders could surely use him. A team that could make it to the Finals if they added a center of Vucevic’s caliber? The first team that drops to mind is the Boston Celtics. Could we see Nikola playing in TD Garden soon?

Zach Lavine

Feb 6, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Dwayne Bacon (8) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve been hearing Zach Lavine’s name in trade talks all season. And for a reason. Though Lavine has never been an All-Star before, this season, he is playing on that level. He is averaging 27-5-5. Those are MVP numbers. But, to be in the MVP discussion, your team needs to be good, which the Bulls aren’t.�

Chicago is playing better this season, and they aren’t at the very bottom of the conference. Still, we’re far from saying the Bulls are a playoff lock. It doesn’t seem they are a team that needs to go all out so they would reach the playoffs, but should Zach get the opportunity to play on a playoff team already?

Many fans want to see Lavine on the roster of last year’s champions from California, and we’ve heard that there’s interest from both sides. The Los Angeles Lakers are already great, but LeBron and AD could use a third star. The NBA has been put on notice after a blockbuster trade that put James Harden on the Nets. The nets have three All-Stars, and the Lakers might make a move for their third. 

Zach Lavine won the slam dunk contest twice and left his mark on the All-Star Weekend forever. With a trade to a legitimate contender, could we remember Zach as more than just a Slam Dunk Champion?

Bradley Beal

Feb 7, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) yells at forward Deni Avdija (9) as they play against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Putting Bradley Beal on the list of All-Stars that need to be traded is one of the easiest decisions we’ve made today. This year’s Washington Wizards are the worst team getting the most attention ever, probably. 

Many journalists and fans picked the Wizards to reach the playoffs after getting Russell Westbrook in a trade this offseason. Unfortunately, they have been very wrong. The Wizards are currently 5-15, which leaves them nowhere near playoff contention.

Nothing has been working for the Wizards this season, except for one thing – Bradley Beal. Averaging 33 points per game is a big deal, and Beal has been doing it with ease.

That’s why everybody wants to see Bradley Beal playing outside of Washington. That’s everybody, except Bradley Beal. The All-Star shooting guard claims he doesn’t want out of DC. However, if the Wizards continue to play like they have been playing, that is likely to change. Beal’s frustration has been visible on the court and the bench, and we see that situation only becoming worse.

Beal could help multiple teams in their playoff journey, but where would he fit in best? What are the All-Stars you see him playing alongside?

And what other high-quality players do you want to see traded to a better team? Let us know in the comments below.

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